SACHIN.........Greatest batsman of our era????

Well records suggest that that Sachin is definitely the greatest batsman of our times.Certainly the records do suggest it quite explicitly.Most number of ODI hundreds(which is highly unlikely to be passed in the next century) and test hundreds(which ponting may overtake) and also the sheer quantity of runs in both forms suggest that there is no one as good as him.
But for me records dont necessarily makes one the greatest batsman or bowler.Its the way the person had used his bat,the technique,the style,the flamboyance,the way he dominated the bowlers,and the fear he imposed on the bowlers.
If we only consider a batsman at his peak and compare him than i must say Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is unmatchable.The period between 1994-98 were his best years and for that passage he was undoubtedly the best player in the world.Some of his innings viz.
The 155* at Mumbai in 1998 against aussies where he marauded shane warne who bowled round the wicket on a fourth day pitch, by sweeping him for sixes,
The "Sandstorm Century"at sharjah the same year,
The century at Diana Memorial Match at Lords where he pulverized all the great bowlers of that time on the same stage,
The 84 of 46 balls against NZ in his first match as opener
were great innings of that time.
But than over the last 4-5 years(barring the 2003 WC),he has lost that magical touch.
He may be scoring fairly well(condidering his high level of injuries) but the flamboyance and ease with which he attacked are certainly lost.He seems to struggle to score runs.Batting which seemed a treat in those old days seems a burden.Instead of those booming cover drives ,the flashing square cuts and pulls,the down the ground lofted shots, the slog sweeps which charcterized his batting style, he seems to rely more on those leg glances and paddle sweeps for his runs.
And also sachin tendulkar always faced the criticism for not playing enough match winning innings that suits his stature particularly in test matches.I hardly remember an innings in which sachin helped india win by scoring in the final innings(122 against pakistan at chennai comes in the memory but even that was unsuccesful).
Now coming to his peer and the one to whom he was always compared, Brian Charles Lara.One thing about Lara was that despite being part of an ever detoriating team ,he never ever changed the style, the "Calypso" flavoured flamboyance which horrified bowlers all round the world.While bowlers used to respect Sachin and prized his wicket the most due to his impeccable technique,Lara has always remained the most feared batsman among all his contempories. The boom boom cover drives ,the late late cut,and the one legged pull shot have become adjectives in the world of batting.To score over 600 runs against Sri lanka in a 3 match series facing against Murli on dust bowls is by no means a mean task
His detractors often doubt his team spirit and commitment, he definitely has won or saved more matches for WI than any other batsman for their team,ever.Remember that 153 against aussies that Wi won by one wicket where he single handedly pulled his side through or the century against an unbeatable South african team at the 1996 WC,the double century against australia at SCG on his first visit there.
This debate can go forever and ever.......but for me it all comes down to this.......If you want to judge a player over an entire career than for me Brian lara definitely the best!!!